“Kelly’s work demonstrates her flawless structural technique and passionate commitment to emotion, humor and depth of character which is particularly visible in the celebrated screenplay for the upcoming ‘Saving Mr. Banks,’ ” De Luca said in a statement.

“We were all taken with the depth and passion of Kelley’s [sic] engagement with the characters and world E L James has created and we knew she was the right person to augment our ‘Fifty Shades’ family,” Brunetti added.

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Speculation has run rampant as to which screenwriter would tackle the oft-fraught relationship between billionaire Christian Grey and his naive lover Anastasia Steele. “American Psycho” author Bret Easton Ellis had long campaigned for the job via Twitter, finally telling fans in August that he had been passed over for the gig.

With producers and a screenwriter now fastened in (so to speak), the next task will likely be securing a director. Rumors circulated earlier this year that Angelina Jolie had met with the studio, though that report was quickly debunked.

Of course, the most hotly debated topic is which actor and actress will sign on to enter Christian’s Red Room of Pain, with names like Alexander Skarsgård and Ian Somerhalder favored for Christian, while fans have clamored for Nina Dobrev and Lucy Hale (among others) for Ana.

The “Fifty Shades of Grey” trilogy has sold more than 32 million copies in e-book and print.

What do you think of Kelly Marcel penning the “Fifty Shades of Grey” script? Who would you like to play Christian and Ana?